]]>The Australian Fighting Championship and KLF Kunlun Fight will co-promote a genuine combat sports spectacle on 28 and 29 October when on two consecutive days, both Australia and the worlds best martial artists will compete in star studded MMA and Kick Boxing Events.

Kunlun Fight is a Chinese kickboxing promotion developed by Kunsun Media. Kunlun Fight debuted in 2014 and is regarded as one of the top kickboxing promotions in the world. In March 2016 Kunlun Fight finished series B financing from Morningside Ventures, IDG Capital Partners and Northern Light Venture Capital. Celebrity Jet Li is one of the shareholders of Kunlun Fight. Kunlun Fight is valued over 350 million USD, making Kunlun Fight the most valuable combat sports startup in China.

AFC – Australian Fighting Championship is Australia’s premier Mixed Martial Arts promotion Founded by CEO Adam Milankovic in 2011. The AFC has been formed to unite the Australian Mixed Martial Arts industry and bring mainstream awareness to the sport. By showcasing the best Australian talent alongside international drawcards, the AFC delivers the highest quality Mixed Martial Arts events in the Country.

On 28 October, some of the biggest names in the domestic and international MMA scene will embark on the Melbourne Pavilion and compete on one of the most historic cards to date. The historic card will be headlines by a Light Heavyweight Title Fight between reigning champion Jamie Abdallah and the #1 contender Sokoudjou. The co-main event will see Australia’s best Lightweight Issac ‘Headsplitter’ Hardman defend his title against Rob Hill.

Jamie Abdallah is undefeated at Light Heavyweight in the AFC and thus far has dispatched Daniel Almedia and the tough Randall Ray in devastating fashion. Jamie’s one punch KO power makes him incredibly dangerous, as he is only one uppercut or overhand away from another appearance on the AFC highlight reel. However, he’ll face his toughest test to date on October 28 in the form of UFC and PRIDE veteran Sokoudjou. Sokoudjou walked right through Marcelo Tenorio at AFC China and will look to do the exact same thing to the Champ on October 28.

Issac Hardman won the AFC Lightweight title in China stopping James Bishop after delivering a striking master class. With that win, accompanied by other domestic success, Issac has established himself as the premier Lightweight in the Country. Rob Hill unfortunately had to withdraw from the title fight at AFC China so come October 28 he will rightfully get his shot at that title. Having previously manhandled former UFC fighter Ben Wall, Rob will no doubt prove to be Issac’s biggest test to date.

The undercard is stacked with AFC favourites Amin Yaqubi, Peter Davenport, Brock McRobb and Dane Beeby all making an appearance as well as some standout international fighters.

The following day, on 29 October, some of the worlds best Kickboxers will get their opportunity to demonstrate their craft on this historic combat sports platform. International standouts such as Artur Kyshenko, Artur Gorlov, Charles August, Yaqoot Shah Hakimi and Huss Al Mansouri will all be competing alongside some of Australia’s finest including John Wayne Parr, River Daz, Ramesh Habib, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Moxon, Jason Scerri and Benny Mahoney. With a line up like this, slug fests and highlight reel KO’s are guaranteed!

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http://afcmma.com.au/i-wanna-clock-the-game/#commentsTue, 25 Jul 2017 08:21:09 +0000http://afcmma.com.au/?p=3204Kick boxing sensation Israel Adesanya will confront his biggest martial arts test to date on July 28 when he battles knock out artist Melvin Guilard for the Interim AFC Middleweight Title. With a kick boxing career comprising 50 wins with almost half coming by KO, and a broadening martial arts career comprising a perfect 9...

]]>Kick boxing sensation Israel Adesanya will confront his biggest martial arts test to date on July 28 when he battles knock out artist Melvin Guilard for the Interim AFC Middleweight Title. With a kick boxing career comprising 50 wins with almost half coming by KO, and a broadening martial arts career comprising a perfect 9 wins all by KO, this is one seriously dangerous martial artist!

Israel’s combat sports journey speaks entirely for itself, and with so many fights across so many different disciplines one may consider him a veteran in this genre of sport; but that’s not the case for Israel, in his mind he is only getting started:

“[I] fight on Kunlun one time; currently contracted too Glory of Heroes-China (formerly WLF). I’ve been fighting since 2008 and have plenty of notches on my belt. But I feel like I started 2 years a go. I feel fresh in the game”

Israel’s knock out ratio is truly daunting; his kick boxing record demonstrates his KO power and it’s even scarier when he puts on the 4oz gloves. On occasion, Israel has even endeavoured to just test his opponent’s chin but the result has been a clean KO:

“100% of my MMA fights end by KO. I don’t even try knock them out, I just wanna touch their chin, the soft spots of their head. Eventually they fall cuz I’m very precise”

The New Zealand martial arts scene is prodigious at the moment. The calibre of fighters the Country continues to produce is world class and Israel is lucky enough to train and learn from some of the very best:

“I’m training at home in Auckland under the tutelage of Eugene Bareman!! Got some world-beaters in my camp: Brad Riddell, Dan Hangman, Blood Diamond, Kai Kara. Even got guys on the rise like Carlos Ulberg, The Vake brothers…the list goes on. I love the spirit of the team”

Current UFC fighter Dan Hooker has a storied history in the AFC and previously held the Lightweight Title for an extensive period. Kai Kara France has challenged for a title and other New Zealand natives have made their mark. All of these warriors have influenced Israel’s development in some way, however it’s his coach whom has had the major impact:

“Eugene cuz no one has any idea of how good he is at breaking down fights. One of the best on Earth, but I’m bias. American striking is nowhere the level of NZ. Their grappling is ahead but we are catching up fast”

When Israel finally walks into the Melbourne Pavilion on July 28, he’ll throw down with UFC, Bellator and WSOF veteran Melvin Guillard. Israel is very conscious of the dangers Melvin possess however he’s confident he’ll have all the answers come fight night:

“He is small and covers distance well, I’ve watched him fight over the years and he’s got game…and I wanna clock the game”

Melvin is considered a seasoned veteran with huge KO power in his hands; he also has tremendous ring/cage savvy. I asked Israel how he plans to negate these potential advantages; his response was simple as it was menacing:

“Punch him in the mouth!!”

So the martial arts world knows that both guys have serious power and great diversity across martial arts disciplines. Melvin’s collegiate wrestling background may come into play, however regardless of the game plan that Melvin brings forth, Israel is confident he’ll have the advantages across the board:

“Anywhere I want. He can try me!”

A win over Melvin will set up a genuinely mouth watering contest with current AFC Middleweight Champ Rob Wilkinson to unify the titles. To the general martial arts fine, this fight is an absolute cracker; maybe not so much for Israel:

“Who dafooq is that guy?!”…lol I dunno Rob. Sorry not sorry”

As it has been consistently reported, the AFC is generating global partnerships that will set the promotion up to perform on a world scale. The opportunities that will soon be bestowed upon our athletes are genuinely endless, and Israel is now right in the mix to make the most of those opportunities:

“I wanna fit into the AFC wallet. Fit in where the money is!”

AFC 20 goes down on July 28 live from the Melbourne Pavilion. Get your tickets now: AFC 20 Tickets

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http://afcmma.com.au/theyll-leave-craving-more/#commentsMon, 24 Jul 2017 08:22:10 +0000http://afcmma.com.au/?p=3201Knock out artist and UFC, Bellator and WSOF veteran Melvin ‘The Young Assassin’ Guillard will make his AFC debut on July 28 when he battles feared kick boxer Isreal Adesanya with the Interim AFC Middleweight Championship on the line. Melvin is one of the most renowned martial artists on the planet having competed in The...

]]>Knock out artist and UFC, Bellator and WSOF veteran Melvin ‘The Young Assassin’ Guillard will make his AFC debut on July 28 when he battles feared kick boxer Isreal Adesanya with the Interim AFC Middleweight Championship on the line.

Melvin is one of the most renowned martial artists on the planet having competed in The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 which then resulted in a successful UFC career before moving on to fight in other major promotions around the world.

In a career which has included over 50 MMA fights, it’s safe to say Melvin always brings the fights and has rarely been involved in a contest that doesn’t have ‘fight of the night’ included in the title. With over half of his victories coming by way of KO, when Melvin lands a clean strike his opponents generally take a little nap and that’s exactly what he hopes will ensue on July 28.

Melvin is deep into a structured training camp right now, so recently I sat down with Melvin’s Manager Alex Bonwick and we discussed all things Melvin Guillard including his perceptions of the upcoming contest and future aspirations in the AFC. Check out the transcript of our discussion below:

Josh Warner – Melvin has fought and entertained crowds all over the world, including a run with the UFC. Having been involved with Melvin for a long period, give me your reflections on his martial arts journey so far; the highs, the lows and future plans and expectations?

Alex Bonwick – Melvin’s martial arts journey has truly been the definition of a life long pursuit. Long before he ever had plans of pursuing a career as a professional, Melvin was wrestling collegiately as well as studying the arts of Judo and boxing. One could say that he was destined to become the Young Assassin that we all know and love today.

To call Melvin’s time with Zuffa a run is an understatement having fought 21 times (tied for most appearances in the lightweight division) as well as having been a part of the cast of the ultimate fighter season 2. It wasn’t easy when Melvin parted ways with Zuffa but everything happens for a reason. It allowed him to make a short run with World Series of Fighting and ultimately led to Melvin finding his home with the great people at Bellator MMA. At 34 years old, Melvin is coming into the prime of his MMA career where his athleticism, experience and technique all culminate to create a very dangerous, hungry fighter.

The plan as of now is to win the AFC interim middleweight title, come back down to Australia later this year and unify the titles against the middleweight champion. Australia is a very appealing second home as I’m sure you can imagine haha.

Josh Warner – History will show that two thirds of Melvin’s wins come by way of knockout. Do you think he still has as much confidence in his power as he had say 5 years ago?

Alex Bonwick – Melvin has more confidence in his ability to knock someone out then he did 5 years ago simply because of Melvin’s diligence in training for accuracy and timing, not just hand speed and power. 29 year old Melvin and 34 year old Melvin both have the ability to turn a fighter into spaghetti legs with a single shot, the difference is now, Melvin’s got the ring savvy and experience to look for his opening and rattle someone’s cage with a properly placed punch, using only a portion of his energy as opposed to an onslaught that can leave one drained.

Josh Warner – Where will Melvin be preparing for AFC 20 and who will be his key coaches and training partners?

Alex Bonwick – Melvin’s short camp for this fight is being held at Genesis Training Center in Denver, Colorado. His coach’s name is Jake Romos and his key training partners for this fight are Brandon Girtz and Justin Gaethje as well as everybody else that has helped motivate and push Melvin for this fight. We owe each and every one of you thanks.

Josh Warner – Over Melvin’s career he’s been exposed to so many great coaches, fighters and training partners. Who are a few of the key people that stand out for you?

Alex Bonwick – It’s undeniable that Melvin has had many great influences over the years and rather than forget someone or have someone feel left out, we will take this time to thank every person who has ever helped Melvin along the way. Whether a school wrestling coach that made sure Melvin was ready for his next tournament, a sparring partner that took your bumps so Melvin could improve, or whether you’re Greg Jackson, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I’d like to take the time really quickly to mention former UFC heavyweight champion and Pride FC legend Kevin “the Monster” Randelman, RIP. He is one of Melvin’s biggest role models in the fight game.

Josh Warner – Melvin will fight Israel Adesanya on July 28. What do you know about Melvin’s opponent opponent and what are you expecting from him in this fight?

Alex Bonwick – When know that he’s undefeated and has incredible kickboxing ability. We also know that he’s a big, strong, long fighter at 6’3. That said though, we also know that there’s nobody in the world who can close distance faster than Melvin Guillard. He can hit a person with a 3-punch combo and get back before the person had finished throwing their first shot. Melvin also has some of the fastest hands in the lightweight and welterweight divisions; we believe this will translate very nicely into middleweight where the guys are even bigger and bulkier.

Josh Warner – In a contest in which both fighters have proven one punch (or kick) KO power; where do you feel Melvin will have the advantages in this fight?

Alex Bonwick – Melvin has the advantage in every area save for his height and size. The most important advantage that Team Guillard has though is experience. Melvin has 50+ professional fights with 34 wins, majority by KO. He’s fought the very best in the world and knows what it means to have pressure and how to handle it. The Australian fans will see first hand July 28th and I promise, they’ll leave craving more.

Josh Warner – Melvin wins this and he becomes the Interim AFC Middleweight Champion with sets up a genuinely mouthwatering fight with current Champ Rob Wilkinson in the future. What do you think about a potential fight with Rob?

Alex Bonwick – We don’t know a lot about Rob, but have nothing but respect for every promotions champion no matter the promotion and no matter the division. There’s a reason they’ve got that title and we don’t take anything away from them as fighters, well, that’s not entirely true. We do take their championships ;). Melvin is afraid of no man and by the sounds of things it’s a fight the fans would love, so it would be something we would be very keen on giving them after Melvin wins the AFC interim title July 28th.

Josh Warner – As the AFC continues its expansion internationally the promotion is quickly becoming a global player, which ultimately means more opportunities for our athletes. So where do you see Melvin fitting into the AFC picture in the future?

Alex Bonwick – Pretty simply put, as one of their champions. Melvin has the unique ability to win dual division titles should he choose to make a run at the welterweight crown as well. That’s his natural division after all. I think I hit the nail on the head earlier when I said Australia makes for a very, very appealing second home. Don’t miss out July 28th, and don’t blink that night either, this one’s going to be absolute fireworks!!

AFC 20 goes down on July 28 live from the Melbourne Pavilion. Get your tickets now: AFC 20 Tickets

]]>http://afcmma.com.au/theyll-leave-craving-more/feed/0I think I’ve got the advantages in all areashttp://afcmma.com.au/i-think-ive-got-the-advantages-in-all-areas/
http://afcmma.com.au/i-think-ive-got-the-advantages-in-all-areas/#commentsMon, 24 Jul 2017 02:55:34 +0000http://afcmma.com.au/?p=3195Talented BJJ practitioner Nicole Szepesvary will setup on short notice and battle it out with Anthea Paton at AFC 20. Nicole has had an incredibly successful amateur career and is in fact the reigning and undefeated XFC Amateur Flyweight Champ. Her journey to the AFC cage has been one full of accomplishment and success and...

]]>Talented BJJ practitioner Nicole Szepesvary will setup on short notice and battle it out with Anthea Paton at AFC 20. Nicole has had an incredibly successful amateur career and is in fact the reigning and undefeated XFC Amateur Flyweight Champ. Her journey to the AFC cage has been one full of accomplishment and success and even at a young age her resume is star studded:

“I’ve trained various aspects of MMA for around 8 years, starting with striking then making my way into BJJ about 5-6 years ago. I’ve competed consistently in BJJ, winning a total of 26 gold medals over this time, including winning the QLD State titles for the last 4 years in a row. I’m 4-0 as an amateur in MMA, and am the current XFC amateur Flyweight champ. Ranked number 1 P4P amateur female in Australia & NZ”

Short notice fights come with obvious complexities but for Nicole is a daily activity so she is in fight shape 365 days of the year. Nicole is also lucky enough to have an excellent coach guiding her development:

Come July 28, Nicole will make her pro debut against talented striker Anthea Paton. A natural Flyweight, Nicole is cognisant of the fact that Anthea may be a little bigger, however that will not stop her from implementing her game plan and chalking up a pro debut victory:

“We’ve watched one of her fights. I think I’ve got the advantage in all areas. Anthea’s heavier, so I assume she will try and use that to her advantage. I train with heavier, higher ranked people every day and compete in heavier weight divisions, often winning the absolute divisions in BJJ. So I know how to deal with it.”

AFC 20 goes down on July 28 live from the Melbourne Pavilion. Get your tickets now: AFC 20 Tickets

]]>http://afcmma.com.au/i-think-ive-got-the-advantages-in-all-areas/feed/0I’m prepared for whatever comes my wayhttp://afcmma.com.au/im-prepared-for-whatever-comes-my-way/
http://afcmma.com.au/im-prepared-for-whatever-comes-my-way/#commentsSun, 23 Jul 2017 03:03:24 +0000http://afcmma.com.au/?p=3190Extreme MMA Protégé Joshua ‘Pretty Boy’ Riley will make his return to the AFC on July 28 when he battles promotional debutant Jamie Renouf. The main with the ‘pretty’ style has been spending arduous hours in the gym continuing to refine his game as he resets for another push at AFC Bantamweight glory. Ask any...

]]>Extreme MMA Protégé Joshua ‘Pretty Boy’ Riley will make his return to the AFC on July 28 when he battles promotional debutant Jamie Renouf. The main with the ‘pretty’ style has been spending arduous hours in the gym continuing to refine his game as he resets for another push at AFC Bantamweight glory.

Ask any professional martial artist about their journey in this sport and they will tell you that it’s full of ups and down, accomplishment and challenges and obstacles to overcome. Last time out at AFC 17, Josh suffered his first professional loss at the hands of Kairan Moses and that has no doubt been a bitter pill to swallow:

“I felt really good coming into the fight. I was able to control the majority of the fight, but unfortunately I made a mistake that Kairan was able to capitalise on”

It really was a fascinating fight as Josh was in complete control and then in a blink of an eye he was laying flat on his back and the fight was over. The result of the fight cannot be changed, however the reason in which the result occurred definitely can, and that’s what Josh’s focus has been:

“It just goes to show that this sport is a game of inches, you just can’t afford to make any mistakes. Good job to Kairan, he is a highly ranked Bantamweight and it showed in his composure. He is seasoned fighter. It’s a fight I would love to have all over again”

When you think about the premier martial arts facilities in Melbourne you immediately think Extreme MMA. Paul McVeigh has done a fantastic job building an empire, and the level of fighter’s Extreme continue to produce is exceptional. Josh has been lucky enough to have the crème de la crème support him as he prepares for AFC 20:

“As always, I will be preparing at Extreme MMA in Chadstone with my head coach Amin Yaqhobi along with my other coaches Vik Grujic and Paul McVeigh. I’ve also been sharpening up on my striking with coach Peter Hatton. My training partners Nikos Trepca, Michael Barber, Ramen Habib have all contributed in their own ways to help me prepare throughout this fight camp.

As Josh mentioned, Nikos Trepca has been heavily involved in this fight camp and has thoroughly supported Josh since they commenced this journey together as 16 year olds. Nikos himself is one of the brightest young prospects in the sport, and being able to walk down this path together has been of great benefit for Josh:

“Nikos and I are pretty much brothers. We started our Martial Arts journey together since our amateur days at the age of 16. We’ve gone through a lot together and we have helped each other develop into the martial artists that we are today”

Come July 28, Josh will square off with BJJ Purple Belt Jamie Renouf in a critical Bantamweight contest. Similar to most fighters these days, Josh isn’t really focussing any of his attention on Jamie and is instead preparing himself for whatever may come at AFC 20:

“Jamie Renouf seems to be a well-rounded fighter. I don’t tend to focus on my opponents; I just focus my energy on being prepared for whatever comes my way”

As far as potential advantages go, Josh isn’t necessarily honing in any one area as he believes that simply avoiding mistakes he has made in the past will see him through to a successful outcome on July 28:

Jamie is a well-rounded fighter. However, I have learnt a lot from my last fight and I will not be making the same mistakes again.

Josh is positioned right in the middle of a promotion that is experiencing the biggest expansion of any Australian martial arts promotion in history. The future will provide some incredible opportunities to compete against the world’s best fighters both here an abroad, so when I asked Josh where he sees himself fitting into that picture, his response was simple:

“AFC Bantamweight Champion!”

AFC 20 goes down on July 28 live from the Melbourne Pavilion. Get your tickets now: AFC 20 Tickets

]]>Following the recent announcement of a historic partnership between the Australian Fighting Championship and KLF Kunlun Fights, a partnership that promises to change the landscape of global combat sports, AFC CEO Adam Milankovic was invited to Kunlun 64. KLF certainly didn’t disappoint as the fight card included a raft of blockbuster fights and spectacular finishes. Siting at ringside, Adam was thrilled with professionalism of the promotion and quality of fights.

Whilst in China, Adam was interviewed by the KLF team; the interview has already received over 350,000 views and will be released in Australian in the coming days. Below is a transcript of the interview between Adam and KLF:

Kunlun – Could you introduce to the fans in China about AFC events?

Adam – AFC has been running events for 7 years in Australia now and have established ourselves in Australia as the number one MMA promotion.

Kunlun – What brings you the idea to collaborate with KLF? What do you think of KLF?

Adam – KLF are the biggest promotion through out the whole of China and are recognised around the world as one of the biggest and best leading kickboxing promotions and brands. This is exciting for combat sport in Australia as AFC has had a big influence on the MMA circuit and with the continuous growth of the combat sport in Australia working in joint venture with KLF we will definitely change the platform of combat sports in Australia!

Kunlun – What do you think of KLF founder Jiang Hua?

Adam – Jiang Hua from what I can see is very passionate in what he does, he has vision and has taken that vision and has achieved so much so far and is a true leader and role model in the world of combat sports.

Kunlun – What do you think of Raymond Luo & Ted Yang?

Adam – I think Raymond and Ted have done an amazing job on what they have achieved. They have a passion and a vision to where they want to go. To date they have built a brand and info structure and with that I’m sure their achievements are endless. I am honoured to be able to work along side them this coming October.

Kunlun – Except for running the events in joint venture, what other areas do you expect to explore with KLF?

Adam – I’m just overall excited to be able to have AFC share the stage with KLF and am open minded to were it can lead to. I’m looking forward to October and I’m sure after great success there will be many more exciting opportunities with KLF that I’m looking forward to.

Kunlun – Which fight match interest you the most this time in KLF 64 Chongqing?

Adam – Chinese female fighter Wang Kehan excites me most with her KO power and it will be a great fight against Laetitia Madjene from France.

Kunlun – Which fighter excites you the most?

Adam – With 69 wins and 34 by way of knockout, Arthur Kyshenko is dominating his division at the moment and find him hard to beat and excited to watch him fight! I’d love to see him come to Australia in October to fight.

In the coming weeks, details will be released in relation to the co-promoted fight show between the AFC and KLF in October. This will be a historic event for numerous reasons, namely two combat sports super powers coming together to put on a show of the likes of which the world has never seen before. Get ready combat sports fans, the platform is about to change!

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http://afcmma.com.au/always-looking-for-a-challenge/#commentsTue, 18 Jul 2017 09:38:44 +0000http://afcmma.com.au/?p=3178On July 28, New Zealand native Damian Maru will make his way to Melbourne and throw down with the heavy handed Phil Ikafunga. Every martial arts fan loves a heavyweight showdown and that’s exactly what a packed Melbourne Pavilion will get in just over 1 weeks time. Damian is still relatively new to the sport...

]]>On July 28, New Zealand native Damian Maru will make his way to Melbourne and throw down with the heavy handed Phil Ikafunga. Every martial arts fan loves a heavyweight showdown and that’s exactly what a packed Melbourne Pavilion will get in just over 1 weeks time.

Damian is still relatively new to the sport having only been training for 3 years whilst initially focussing on building a business empire in the music industry. Damian has made the dreams of numerous emerging artists come true and as a result is recognised as a leader in his community. Now it’s time for Damian to take on an entirely new challenge and step into the AFC cage, he will however do so with a broadening martial arts pedigree:

“[Training] Japanese Jiu Jitsu from 27 years old at East Side; ground and pound with Benji Kenny then changed to CFC Canterbury Fight Centre aka Strike Force Canterbury to train with Karl Webber for the past 3 years doing BJJ, Wrestling, Boxing, Kick Boxing and MMA”

As Damian mentioned above, recently he has moved his training under the tutelage of Karl Webber, a renowned trainer in New Zealand who continually produces genuine martial arts superstars. To ensure Damien can soak up as much knowledge as possible, he’ll also work across some other establishments with credentialed and experienced training partners:

Coach Hostile is definitely one of my favourites; his approach to training martial artists and the value base he instills within a martial arts gym are truly admirable. Even in a short period, Karl has already had a big impact on Damian’s development as a martial artist:

“Major impact! He is a true role model and inspiration”

When Damian makes his MMA debut, he’ll do so against the heavy handed Phil Ikafunga. Damian doesn’t know a heap about his opponent all be it he’s confident Phil will definitely bring it come July 28:

“He looks tough, should be a good fight, always looking for a challenge”

Heavyweight fights can often turn into a slugfest and perennial test of wills (or chins for the matter). However in this instance, Damian is confident he’ll have the advantages in different elements of the game:

“Grappling and ground”

The AFC continues to grow and prosper with each day that passes, and as a result the opportunities for our athletes to live their martial arts dream ensure. Although the possibilities for Damian are no doubt endless, his ambitions are very grounded at this early stage:

“I wanna do well so I get more fights with the AFC”

AFC 20 goes down on July 28 live from the Melbourne Pavilion. Get your tickets now: AFC 20 Tickets

]]>http://afcmma.com.au/always-looking-for-a-challenge/feed/0Lets make a masterpiecehttp://afcmma.com.au/lets-make-a-masterpiece/
http://afcmma.com.au/lets-make-a-masterpiece/#commentsMon, 17 Jul 2017 09:40:05 +0000http://afcmma.com.au/?p=3170On July 28, Hoshi Friedrich will compete in the first round of the AFC Welterweight Tournament. His initial assignment will be relatively complex in the form of UFC vet Anton Zafir. Hoshi is broadly considered one of the highest potential Welterweights in the Country and as such has earned his spot along side some star studded...

]]>On July 28, Hoshi Friedrich will compete in the first round of the AFC Welterweight Tournament. His initial assignment will be relatively complex in the form of UFC vet Anton Zafir.

Hoshi is broadly considered one of the highest potential Welterweights in the Country and as such has earned his spot along side some star studded martial artists. Although he has earned his spot, simply participating will no fulfil Hoishi’s requirements… no he is here to win the whole damn thing and walk away with the AFC Welterweight strap.

Hoshi’s journey to the AFC has no doubt had its ups and downs, and it was potentially the biggest challenge of all that allowed him to build something very special:

“I’ve been looking forward to fighting with the AFC for a long time – when I was first scheduled in 2015 I was forced to withdraw after blowing my knee in training – you could say that injury was my biggest hurdle but it was absolutely my biggest motivator to where I am now. During my time off injured I created and literally built Kings MMA & Jiu Jitsu from a garage, which has flourished into a full time academy and is now what I do with my days. I live every moment of every day in this sport and I’m so grateful I get to share it with the wider community. The environment I have around me makes it easy to put in the hard work I need to”

Hoshi is synonymous in the industry for ending fights; as a matter of fact when Hoshi wins he either wins by KO or submission so if he were to win the whole thing two opponents will either tap or nap. On that basis, Hoishi’s mantra as it applies to the fight game is truly inspiring:

“I’m just out there to have a bunch of fun. I’m an artist and their body is my canvas – you ever see an artist with a full pallete just sitting there waiting for the picture to paint itself? Hell no! I love to fight, get after it and force the finish out of them; let’s make a masterpiece ;)”

Diversity is often the key when it comes to a successful preparation and a successful fight camp. The more talented and knowledgeable practitioners you can surround yourself with, the more your game will evolve. Hoshi definitely adopts this mentality and even gets some tutelage from his father:

“All of my preparation remains the same – I train at Absolute MMA in the CBD with the best grapplers in the world under the guidance of my head coach Thiago Stefanutti, I train my striking at Kings MMA with my kickboxing coach Ramesh Habib and I spar at absolute MMA and Resilience training centre. As in every camp my original coach, training partner and father Stephan Friedrich oversees my camp and training direction, opponent analysis etc. I live in the fight capital of Australia – and I’m without a doubt making the most of it”

In just over a week, Hoshi will walk into the AFC cage and standing opposite him will be UFC veteran and domestic Welterweight standout Anton Zafir. Intimidating for some, but not Hoshi, he is simply embracing the challenge:

“I’ve been looking forward to a fight with Anton since my pro debut. I think that stylistically we are quite similar and this will make for a banger of a fight. I think we will be very tough but I’m prepared for a war not a battle, I hope he does the same so we can give the crowd what they want to see”

Although Anton has the international exposure and fight experience, he and Hoshi have had a similar amount of fights so as far as cage awareness and craftiness, they are on very similar pages. Not to be outdone, Hoshi will be drawing on all of his experience and understanding came July 28:

“Anton has had 1 more professional fight than me; I have a wealth of amateur experience on top of my pro record and have been fighting for 7 years. I think the fact that Anton has fought in the UFC adds pressure to him which he really doesn’t need on top of fighting me in my hometown – it’s not a mind battle though, so let’s put that aside and really consider that this fight is going to be won by simply being the better fighter on the night”

On the same night, Abdallah Hamdan and Theo Christakos will also mix it up with the winner taking on either Hoshi or Anton in the Tournament Final. That fight however is not at all part of Hoshi’s thinking at this point in time; in actual fact Hoshi believes that he’ll be in the minds of Abdallah and Theo by the end of the night:

“I have absolute tunnel vision on Anton – I have no thoughts on winner of Hamdan and Theo, after I walk through him I will be the favourite to win that strap and they can spend their time thinking about me”

As Hoshi has alluded to, his career has now spanned over 7 years and has experienced success at both the amateur and professional level in the words toughest and most testing sport. He is also a successful business owner and continues to build his own empire. All that could be capped off with the AFC Welterweight Title strapped tightly around his waist by the end of the year:

“I’d love to have that belt around my waist and defend it for a long time. I want to prove to my students how accessible the highest level of this sport is – if I can do it they can too, and I want to grow future champions as well as be one for a very long time”

The AFC is going places on a world scale; and our athletes are well and truly coming along for the ride. With a co-promoted fight card with Kunlun Fights scheduled for October, now would be the perfect time to be a champion in Australia’s #1 Fight Promotion, and Hoshi is all too aware of the opportunities that await. So where does Hoshi see himself fitting into this picture:

“Welterweight champion, pound for pound best and brilliantly entertaining fighter! If I can inspire the odd person and put on a great show each time I’ll be a happy man”

AFC 20 goes down on July 28 live from the Melbourne Pavilion. Get your tickets now: AFC 20 Tickets

]]>http://afcmma.com.au/lets-make-a-masterpiece/feed/0Discipline and dedication have not failed me yethttp://afcmma.com.au/discipline-and-dedication-have-not-failed-me-yet/
http://afcmma.com.au/discipline-and-dedication-have-not-failed-me-yet/#commentsSun, 16 Jul 2017 09:15:16 +0000http://afcmma.com.au/?p=3167On July 28, stand out Muay Thai specialist and XFC Australian Top Team favourite Anthea Paton will make her AFC and MMA debut when she battles Claire Todd. Although Anthea will be giving up years of experience to her opponent, that means very little once the cage door closes and it’s the fighters mentality and...

]]>On July 28, stand out Muay Thai specialist and XFC Australian Top Team favourite Anthea Paton will make her AFC and MMA debut when she battles Claire Todd. Although Anthea will be giving up years of experience to her opponent, that means very little once the cage door closes and it’s the fighters mentality and determination that Anthea feels will guide her to the successful outcome she desires.

Anthea’s journey to the martial arts cage is very unique to say the least. Although training and fighting is now her focus and priority, that wasn’t always the case:

“I walked through the door of XFC Narre Warren less than three and a half years ago and this was the first time I had ever stepped into a Martial Arts Gym. Before this I had been attempting a career in a different field of entertainment, I was a singer and dancer and had focused my life around this for many years, but something was always missing. The day I discovered fighting, I found it. I threw myself into every possible type of training XFC could offer me and have continued this way ever since”

Although recognised as a Muay Thai fighter having recently demonstrated her capability in that discipline, there is much more to Anthea’s martial arts game then first meets the eye. The key focus recently may have ben Muay Thai, however the general development has always been far broader:

“I feel that through the quality of coaching and opportunities I have been given I am in a good position to move into this style as XFC are believers in well rounded fighters that excel in every Martial Arts discipline required for MMA”

As Anthea has alluded to on a number of occasions, she calls XFC Australian Top Team home and once again this establishment will be central to her preparation for AFC 20. With the calibre of coaches and training partners Anthea is exposed to confidence is organically instilled in this very talented martial artist:

“The XFC empire is ever growing and provides everything I need to get the job done. My home is XFC Narre Warren and my day-to-day coaches are Dion Douglas and Ross Dallow. These guys have put countless hours into my training and development; I wouldn’t be where I am without them and of course Master Kelly Seif, without whom none of this would be possible. They make up my corner and I couldn’t have a better team backing me in the cage. My training partners have also been invaluable throughout this process and I am eternally grateful for the hours and rounds that Adam Sorati, Eren Selvi, Vince Pintaudi, the girls from the various XFC gyms; Christel, Katherine, Audrey and Kim have put in with me during this camp”

Anthea made mention of the seemingly endless number of training partners to which she works with to continually refine her craft. In addition to that list are of course standout AFC Featherweight Kaan Ofli and current AFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jamie Abdallah. Safe to say these two have also been invaluable to Anthea’s development:

“The inspiration these guys provide is second to none, I am surrounded by so many layers of knowledge and experience and am lucky to have the opportunity to soak it all in on a day to day basis”

When July 28 does finally roll around, Anthea will mix it up with Muay Thai fighter and Karate Black Belt Claire ‘Rocky’ Todd. Anthea has done a little bit of homework and knows full well what awaits her at AFC 20:

“I am aware of her extensive Muay Thai experience and national titles, as well as her 17 years of training experience. I am expecting her to be very prepared in all aspects of MMA”

So based on the experience of her opponent, some may assume that the odds are somewhat stacked against Anthea at AFC 20. That however is not the perspective of Anthea, as she believes she will have numerous advantages in this fight:

“I feel that my advantages will be my toughness, grit and desire. I didn’t come into this sport with any special talents other than discipline and dedication and this is something that has not failed me yet”

One advantage that Anthea will definitely have is that of the ‘home crowd’. Although the majority will no doubt be screaming her name, Anthea appreciates the isolation that comes with being a professional fighter so as apposed to drawing from the crowd, Anthea simply hopes to make them proud:

“A true performer will give it all for an audience of 1 or 1000. You venture into the fight alone no matter how many fans are in the crowd, so it’s the knowledge that the success of your performance will bring pride to your family and friends that increases the drive and having them all there to celebrate at the end is just a bonus”

As I have alluded to many time now, the AFC’s growth and international partnerships makes the promotion one in which domestic and international fighters alike want to be a part of. The opportunity to fight overseas, or mix it with the best fighters from around the world is an opportunity to good to resist, so where does Anthea see herself fitting into the AFC picture in the future:

With the belt, as the AFC Bantamweight Champion!

AFC 20 goes down on July 28 live from the Melbourne Pavilion. Get your tickets now: AFC 20 Tickets

]]>http://afcmma.com.au/discipline-and-dedication-have-not-failed-me-yet/feed/0I love challenging myselfhttp://afcmma.com.au/i-love-challenging-myself/
http://afcmma.com.au/i-love-challenging-myself/#commentsFri, 14 Jul 2017 07:42:44 +0000http://afcmma.com.au/?p=3148On July 28, XFC Australian Top Team protégé Oscar Kong will make his AFC debut when he battles the heavy hitting Matt Heath. Oscar is a genuine phenomenon in the cage; his power and granite jaw make him an irresistible force, an immovable object and a knock out machine! Oscar’s martial arts background is incredibly...

]]>On July 28, XFC Australian Top Team protégé Oscar Kong will make his AFC debut when he battles the heavy hitting Matt Heath. Oscar is a genuine phenomenon in the cage; his power and granite jaw make him an irresistible force, an immovable object and a knock out machine!

Oscar’s martial arts background is incredibly impressive and the degree of disciplines in which he is credentialed makes his a very dangerous prospect in the cage:

“The first martial arts I have learned is KUNGFU WINGCHUN. In 2012, I went to Shanghai for compete in 11th World Grand Wushu Festival. [I] got two silver medals. And [I] had my ITF taekwondo black belt in that year. I’m training MMA in Melbourne”

I was lucky enough to call Oscar’s amateur fight on the VAMAA Amateur Cage Fighting event back in April. To say I was absolutely astonished would be an understatement! Here check it out for yourself: Oscar Kong vs. Lucas Parkins. On that evening Oscar without a shadow of a doubt demonstrated his granite jaw and amazing power. He simply walked through all of his opponent’s punches and hurt his opponent badly every time he landed. The fight was no doubt a learning experience for Oscar, and he’ll look to amend a few things prior to his pro debut:

“My hand and my jaw will be tougher. I will be more smart and more fit; using my footwork”

Oscar has the privilege of training at one of the best gyms in the entire Country, that being XFC Australian Top Team. Under the tutelage of Kelly Seif Oscar is continually refining his MMA game whilst also working with the likes of Kaan Ofli, Anthea Patton and current AFC Light Heavyweight Champ Jamie Abdallah. The latter has had an integral impact on Oscar’s development:

“I have a lot of respect for Jamie. We have a very strong team. Factory for champs lol”

When Oscar enters the AFC cage for the first time, hard-hitting Matt Heath will be waiting patiently for him. Oscar has had a good look at his opponent, and has made a few very important observations:

“The only thing I know about Matt Heath is beautiful tattoo on his arm lol. Any thing going to happen in the cage, will be part of my experience”

All jokes aside, when the dust settles Oscar will have a genuine fight on his hands, however he feels his keys to victory are relatively straight forward:

“I’m younger and powerful hands”

The AFC recently conducted two fight cards in Xian China, an ultra successful experience for the promotion. With the announcement of recent global partnerships and future international cards, Oscar would sure love to be a part of a future China card:

“I was born in Shanghai China, came to this country when I was in high school. With AFC becoming a global player that means more challenges. I love challenging myself. I will do the best as I can giving our fans [an] enjoyable show”

AFC 20 goes down on July 28 live from the Melbourne Pavilion. Get your tickets now: AFC 20 Tickets